U.S. Constitution Study Guide

Enlightenment

A movement that promoted knowledge, reason, and science

Popular sovereignty

People are the source of the government's power

Republicanism (republic)

People elect their representatives (voting rights)

Federalism

A government where the power is split/divided between the national government and state governments

Limited government

the Constitution limits the powers the government powers by listing the powers it does have and doesn't have

Separation of powers

The government is divided into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and each has its own responsibilities

Checks and balances

Each branch has some sort of power over the other two

Enumerated powers

Powers that only the national (federal) government hold

Reserved powers

Powers that are set aside only for the states

Concurrent powers

Powers that are shared/held by both the states and national government

Elastic clause

Clause in the Constitution that states that Congress have the ability to do whatever is necessary to execute government

Implied powers

The Elastic clause gives the government implied powers- abilities not physically listed but still existent

Bicameral

Two houses (Senate, House of Reps.) to make laws

Appropriate

To set aside/determine what to do with money

Impeach

To bring raise official charges on an official

Constituents

The people of a state or district represented by a member of Congress

Bill

A proposed law

Veto

What a president does when they don't approve of (sign) a bill

Cabinet

A group of people who help the president make decisions

Judicial review

The Supreme Court's ability to analyze and interpret laws of national, state, and district courts and decide whether they are constitutional or unconstitutional (violate the Constitution)

John Locke

Believes people have the natural rights of life, liberty, and happiness

Montesquieu

Believed in separation of powers and a balanced government

Census

The counting of the country's population every 10 years

Reapportionment

The redistribution of House members each state has after a census (because of fluctuation in states' populations)

Electoral college

The people that cast the official votes for president